Page 64 of Forbidden Harmony

“Fine. You just here for the weekend?”

“Actually, I’m living here now. Moved inlast weekend into a fantastic condo that Kira helped me find,” Lucas said.

“She’s so good at her job,” Addison said.

“That she is. There isn’t a whole lot forrentals right now, but she found me the perfect place.” Lucas grinned at Addison.“There’s only one condo full of rowdy college students in the entire building.They had one hell of a party Friday night.”

Addison laughed. “Did you join them?”

His grin widened. “Nah. My days of hardpartying are over. I’m looking to settle down in my small-town life.”

“Well, you’ve picked the perfect small town,”Addison said. “We’re so much better than Willington.”

Lucas clapped his hand over his heart. “Allthis trash talk about my home town is crushing to my soul.”

“I can’t help it if Harmony Falls issuperior to Willington in every way,” Addison said with a grin, “but I do feela little bad about the soul crushing.”

“Tell you what, give me one of those friendshipbracelets that you’ve made for every single one of your friends but poor old me,and we’ll call it even.” Lucas reached toward Addison’s hand again.

Without stopping to think about it, Preacherclamped his hand around Lucas’s wrist. He glared at the gamer as Lucas raisedhis eyebrows at him and Addison said, “Preacher, what are you doing?”

“Since when did you and Addison becomefriends?” Preacher said to Lucas.

Lucas glanced at Preacher’s hand stillwrapped around his wrist. “You wanna let go of my hand, big guy? I think it’sa little soon in our relationship for hand holding. Don’t you?”

Addison tugged on his wrist. “Preacher,let him go.”

“Don’t touch her,” he said before releasinghis grip.

“You’re being rude,” Addison said to him.

“It’s all good,” Lucas said.

Addison rolled her eyes before digging intothe small handbag looped around her forearm. She was wearing a bright green dresswith a distractingly low neckline. The pearls were around her neck like usualand when Lucas glanced at them, Preacher scowled at him and could barely controlthe urge to bare his teeth. He knew exactly what the prick was thinking about –fuck, it was the same thing he thought every time he looked at those goddamnpearls – and if Lucas didn’t stop picturing a naked, pearl-wearing Addison inhis bed, Preacher would rearrange his fucking teeth.

“Here, Lucas.” Addison pulled out twofriendship bracelets from her purse and quickly tied them around his wrist.

Lucas grinned at her. “You’re too sweet,Addison. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Addison said. “Oh, andhere, I’ll give you my number now and you can text me about Tuesday afternoon.”

“What’s happening Tuesday afternoon?”Preacher said.

“You sure you don’t mind?” Lucas said.

“I really don’t,” Addison said.

“What’s happening Tuesday?” Preacher saidagain.

“Well, I really appreciate your help,” Lucassaid.

“Addison,” Preacher cupped her arm justabove her elbow – fuck, her skin was soft – and squeezed gently, “what are youdoing with him on Tuesday?”

“I’m taking him to the yarn shop to helphim pick out yarn for his mom’s birthday,” she said. “Why?”

“Addie! Hey, Addie!” Kira was waving ather from across the yard. “Come over here for a second.”

“One minute,” she called. “Lucas, do youwant my number?”

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